Watervliet's Gleason headed to Sacred Heart

By Laura Amato

Monday, March 4, 2013

WATERVLIET - Less than a day after helping the Watervliet boys basketball team capture its third consecutive Section II title, senior Jordan Gleason made a decision that would impact the rest of his life.

Gleason, who is averaging 23.2 points per game for the Cannoneers' this season, verbally committed on Sunday night to continue his basketball career at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut next year.

"I just felt like I couldn't wait any longer," Gleason said of the decision. "There was no point. I really feel like I can see myself there for the next four years."

The commitment makes Gleason, who has led 'Vliet in scoring for the past two years, the first Cannoneer to go Division I since Peter Torncello, a 1980 graduate, who spent time at the University of Rhode Island before transferring to Union College.

Gleason was offered a scholarship from the Pioneers, who compete in the Northeast Conference, early this season, but mulled his decision for several weeks before finally deciding that Sacred Heart was the perfect fit for his talents.

"They've got a great program and they were really uprfront and honest," he said. "That's what I like. I can really see myself fitting in with that."

The Watervliet shooting guard is unsure whether or not he'll stay on the wing when he makes the transition to Division I or if he'll possibly make the switch to point guard at the college level.

No matter what happens though, Gleason is simply happy to have a future that involves collegiate basketball and his fellow Cannoneers couldn't be more proud of his accomplishments.

"We're very excited for Jordan," Watervliet coach Orlando DiBacco said. "He should definitely be proud, so a credit to him and all his hard work and dedication to the game of basketball."

With the New York State Class B Tournament in front of him, the decision to commit to Sacred Heart is definitely a weight off of Gleason's shoulders as he and his teammate go after a second-straight appearance in the championship game.

"I know that stress is gone and I can focus on this one goal," Gleason said. "It takes a lot of pressure off of me."

Gleason, who was named to the Section II Class B Tournament all-star team on Saturday, knows that expectations are high for his performance during the state competition, especially in 'Vliet's game against Beekmantown on Wednesday night.

But with his future already secure and a set of goals still in front of him, Gleason is simply trying to take it all in.

"It just doesn't seem real," he said. "I remember being in eighth and ninth grade and not really playing that much. To be where I am now is kind of amazing."